Basics
Norway has three networks now:
- Telenor
- Telia (formerly NetCom), now merged with Tele2 (by Network Norway) after being acquired by Telia
- ice.net (4G/LTE, no prepaid)
Telenor is still market leader closely followed by Telia that has taken over third-ranked Tele2 in 2015. Both networks are now merged and roam through national network sharing. 2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G on 900 and 2100 MHz and 4G/LTE started on 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz (Bands 1, 7, 20) on all operators.
Another provider sold under the brand of ice.net run by Access Industries offers mobile broadband based on 4G/LTE on 450, 800 and 1800 MHz with a pretty large footprint all over the country. But it's limited to contract subscribers and not offered for prepaid. That's why it remains inaccessible to visitors and is not mentioned any further in this article.
All prices below are given in Norwegian Kroner (NOK).
Regulations
Although Norway is not part of the EU, but of the European Economic Area (EEA), and as such roaming rates are regulated like all over the EU. Foreigners have to buy the starter pack in a shop showing their photo ID for registration. The operators and most of the MVNOs are geared to contract customers, so there is only a rather limited choice of prepaid SIM cards, which are locally called Kontantkort.
SIM cards in Norway need to registered to your name. Locals have various choices to enlist, but visitors are advised to go to a branded store or sales point of the provider to do the registration there showing your international passport or EU identity card.
Coverage
Many public places and public transport are covered by WiFi. For instance, the shuttle bus from Oslo airport to downtown has free WiFi. Norwegian airline provides free WiFi, many ferries and metro trains as well. So you might not need mobile internet rightaway. Populated areas have good mobile coverage, except some remote mountains or fjords. The Svalbard archipelago (including its main island Spitsbergen) is covered by all Norwegian providers as well.
3G shut down
The Norwegian providers have confirmed plans to shut down their 3G network in Norway by 2020 to re-use the spectrum for the 4G network. Telenor's 3G network will be decommissioned gradually, on a regional basis, starting in January 2019.
Telenor
Telenor is market leader in Norway with more than 50% of the national users on its network. It has a good coverage and speeds throughout the country: Telenor Coverage map. 4G/LTE is available for prepaid. Starting in 2019 Telenor will gradually shut down their 3G network to be switched off by 2020.
Availability
Their prepaid SIM is called Telenor Kontant. It's sold at Telenor shops (store locator), many convenience stores like Narvesen, 7-Eleven, Deli de Luca, Mix and electronic retailers for 200 NOK (including 50 NOK credit).
For travelers entering through Oslo Gardermoen Aiport (OSL), there is a cellphone retailer (shop sign: "Mobiles") in the main terminal, next to the rental car counter. Travellers need to provide their passports and the address of your country and Norway (hotel). Many shop attendants in convenience stores won't do the registration. Instead, better drop by the mobile or electronic dedicated stores or a Telenor store to purchase the SIM card. Mini/micro/nano SIM cards are available for 200 NOK start-up with 50 NOK credit. Mini SIM card is pre-cut into micro/nano size.
To check your account balance, send SMS with text SALDO to number 2525. You can also call the service number 91500500 (Norwegian only).
You can try to top-up using an EU-issued credit card on Telenor website, but they accept mainly Scandinavian credit cards only.
Instead, vouchers can be bought at any convenience store in the country. Additional credit can be topped up with the minimum of 200 NOK. The vouchers are in Norwegian language only but the top-up menu can be switched to English. If you buy the credits at places like 7-Eleven, they will print out a "Ladekode" (top-up code) with instructions in Norwegian. You can follow instructions (ask the cashier of 7-Eleven if you can't read Norwegian, but it's not their duty to help you). You can top-up credit by the calling phone given in the instruction. But this phone line doesn't have an English menu, so you might need another help from the staff. You enter the "Ladekode" and that's it. You might need to reboot the phone to update carrier database. if you use an iPhone.
Your credit will be valid for 15 month after any recharge. After 15 months you will have 2 more months to recharge so that your prepaid card will not be blocked. If this does not happen, the prepaid card will be canceled and you will have to buy a new one. They also block the prepaid card after 12 months if they have not recorded any traffic on it, either inbound or outbound. Any loaded credit will be lost.
Check your balance by texting 'SALDO' to 2525, through their app or on your online profile.
Default data rate
The SIM card has a flat rate of max. 10 NOK per day for data. If you use more you won't get billed more than 10 NOK, but speed is reduced from max. 300 Mbps to 128 Kbps, when you exceed 500 MB download data per month.
Data feature packages
These data packages called Datapakker are available for the Kontantkort, but all of them are very longterm running:
- Årskort = 1 year's package: 200 MB each month for one year: 499 NOK
- Halvårskort = 1/2 year's package: 200 MB each month for 6 months: 399 NOK
- Kvartalskort = 1/4 year's package: 200 MB each month for 3 months: 299 NOK
Shorter-term packages are not available. Activation is texting name to 1999.
EU roaming
Roam like at home in the EU/EEA is included without surcharges. Prepaid customers roaming in Europe only pay Norwegian prices.
More info
- Tethering is allowed
- APN: telenor
- Website in Norwegian only: https://www.telenor.no/privat/mobil/mobilabonnement/kontantkort/
Telia (formerly NetCom)
Telia, formerly called NetCom is Norway's runner up, owned by Swedish Telia Group. After the merger with Tele2, their coverage has surpassed even Telenor's according to latest network tests in 2016: NetCom coverage map, but Telenor won the latest speed test in 2017.
Telia Norway said it will gradually phase out its 3G network from end 2018 to free up capacity for 4G and 5G. Migration will be largely complete in 2020.
They provide 4G/LTE now without speed caps, covering 98% of population already in 2016.
Note that all information published by Telia is in Norwegian, both printed and online. Even the voice prompts when attempting to recharge a PAYG number are in Norwegian only.
Availability
Their prepaid product is called Telia Smart Kontant. Take care, there are prepaid SIM cards without the SMART prefix too. It's sold for 99 NOK at Telia stores (store locator), 29 NOK (including 30 NOK credit) at convenience stores, Narvesen, 7-Eleven, Deli de Luca, Mix and many electronic retailers. In promotions and online the starter is sometimes given out for free. It comes with 250 MB and free voice and text for 2 weeks.
Recharging balance on the Telia website only works with a Nordic Credit Card. Instead, vouchers can be bought at convenience stores. The vouchers are in Norwegian only, but the recharge menu can be changed to English at the bottom of the page.
Check your account balance by dialing *150#.
Default data rate
Without having activated a package or for overuse these rules are applied. 10 NOK per MB up to 100 MB per day. Then internet is blocked, but you can add another 100 MB for the day by texting "DATA PÅFYLL" to 1989.
Data feature packages
The SMART Kontant is available with these base plans:
- SMART 14DG: 250 MB, unlimited domestic calls, texts, MMS for 14 days: 99 NOK
- SMART MINI: 1 GB, unlimited domestic calls, texts, MMS for 31 days: 199 NOK
- SMART BASIS: 3 GB, unlimited domestic calls, texts, MMS for 31 days: 299 NOK
- SMART PLUSS: 6 GB: unlimited domestic calls, texts, MMS for 31 days: 399 NOK
These packages can be renewed ahead of time online, by app, in a Telia store or by texting the name of the bundle to 1989. There is no longer a speed cap; you can use your data as fast as the network can provide it. All plans now include "roam like home" in the EU/EEA and unlike in Sweden, no resident registration is required to use a Norwegian Telia SIM outside Norway.
By the same ways you can add shorter bundles called SMART Kontant Mikro:
| Package | Data | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRI1 | 200 MB | 1 day | 25 NOK |
| FRI2 | 1 GB | 1 day | 50 NOK |
| FRI3 | 1 GB | 3 days | 75 NOK |
| FRI4 | 3 GB | 3 days | 125 NOK |
EU roaming
Roam like at home in the EU/EEA and Switzerland is included in all plans and roaming is without surcharges.
More info
- Tethering: allowed
- APN: internet.netcom.no
- Website in Norwegian: https://telia.no/privat/kontant
MyCall (formely Lebara Norway)
In 2012 Tele2 bought the Norwegian branch of Lebara and sells their prepaid cards through the MyCall brand nowadays. In 2015 Tele2 was acquired by Telia and their networks have been merged. For coverage check Telia (see above). 4G/LTE is open for prepaid.
Availability
The SIM called Kontantkort is available for NOK 49 online or discounted to NOK 25 (including 25 NOK credit) at a lot of retailers, you can find here. If you do not have a Norwegian personal ID number, you will need to register and activate at the point of purchase. A 0.99 NOK start-up fee is charged.
Top-ups can be bought in shops or you can top-up at their website using internatl. credit cards.
Check balance by dialing *150#. There is an advance balance check on *151# which tells you about your packages and you can change language to English. This service is free.
Data feature packages
Default data rate is 1.99 NOK per MB. Max. speed is 300 Mbit/s, exprected speed is 100 Mbit/s: They offer these monthly packages for data valid for 30 days:
| Data | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 79 NOK | 1GB |
| 3 GB | 149 NOK | 3GB |
| 6 GB | 219 NOK | 6GB |
| 10 GB | 299 NOK | 10GB |
Packages can be bought online from your credit or by texting the activation code to 06160. Unused data is rolled over to the next month as long as you buy another package.
EU roaming
All allowances are valid in the EU/EEA too for roaming without extra fees.
More info
- Tethering is allowed
- APN: internet
- Website in English: https://en.mycall.no/kontantkort
Chess
Chess is a MVNO that was sold in 2006 to Telia. Then they moved all customers from Telenor to Telia network. There it now gives out 4G/LTE up to 60 Mbit/s to prepaid customers as well. For coverage check Telia above.
Availability
Chess SIM cards are sold in every Narvesen shop and 7-Eleven, most of which are also open on Sundays. Their prepaid SIM is called Chess Kontrol Kontankort and sold for NOK 1 in the standard version or as Kontantkort Global with reduced foreign call prices.
Chess requires registration of all their prepaid customers. It can be done online or by SMS if you have the Norwegian social security number or D-number. If you don't have it, you need to fill in the form and show some ID at the counter of Chess local telecom partner. The shop where you bought the card is such partner and registering immediately after you bought the start package is the best option. Be aware that some users have reported of activation problems with a purchased Chess SIM card (see comments). So better load credit after it has been activated.
You can top-up online with a Nordic credit card or better buy vouchers at their kiosks. Check balance by *150#.
Default data rate
The basic data rate is 0.99 NOK per MB but it is limited by 20 NOK per day for maximum of 300 MB per day. You can purchase another 300 MB per day for 20 NOK by sending SMS with 'MERDATA' to 06060.
Data feature packages
These plans can be chosen for 31 days with unlimited calls and SMS:
- 1 GB: 229 NOK
- 2 GB: 249 NOK
- 4 GB: 299 NOK
- 8 GB: 399 NOK
- 15 GB: 499 NOK
When using more data, you will be on the default rate.
EU roaming
The allowances are valid all over the EU/EEA and you can use it abroad without surcharges.
More info
- APN: netcom
- Username and Password: chess
- Website in Norwegian: http://www.chess.no/abonnement/kontantkort
Chilimobil
Chilimobil is a MVNO that launched on the Telenor network in 2012. Since February 2017 it has switched over to Telia network (see above). It has been the first MVNO in Norway to offer 4G/LTE for prepaid.
Availablility
The prepaid SIM is simply called "Kontantkort" and available at Coop, ICA, Rimi, MIX, Narvesen, 7-Eleven, where you can recharge too. SIM card starter pack costs 29 NOK with 15 NOK credit included. If you don't have a Norwegian passport, insist that your ID data are to be collected at the point of purchase for activation, as you will not be able to do it online without a Norwegian personnummer.
You can top-up in more than 3000 outlets in the country. Check balance by texting 'SALDO' to 2595.
Data options
Standard and their only data rate is 0.99 NOK per MB. This is capped at 15 NOK per day with a maximum of 300 MB per day. The max. speed is at 3 Mbps. No packages are offered for prepaid.
EU roaming
The same rate is valid for roaming in the EU/EEA too without extra fees.
More info
- APN: netcom
- Website in Norwegian: http://www.chilimobil.no/no/kontantkort/
Lycamobile
UK-based MVNO Lycamobile is operating in Norway too. It uses the network of Telia on 2G and 3G, but not on 4G/LTE so far. So it's only a good choice, if you don't have a 4G/LTE device and need data in Norway only as they restrict included EU roaming to a few combo plans and their default rate.
Availability
As usual the SIM card is free with Lycamobile at their retailers, but you have to make a top-up right away. Top up vouchers are available for 50, 100 or 200 NOK at their outlets or online. Check balance by *150#.
Data feature packages
Default rate for data, if no package is activated or for overuse is 0.99 NOK per MB. Max. speed is 16 Mbit/s.
The following monthly (for 30 days) data bundles are available in Norway:
| Data | Price | Activation |
|---|---|---|
| 150 MB | 49 NOK | *139*3001# |
| 600 MB | 99 NOK | *139*3002# |
| 1 GB | 129 NOK | *139*3003# |
| 1.75 GB | 199 NOK | *139*3004# |
| 3 GB | 299 NOK | *139*3005# |
Bundles will automatically renew, if there is credit. To stop dial *190# before expiry. To check data volume, dial *137#. Max speed is at 16 Mbit/s.
EU roaming
Lycamobile in Norway includes EU/EEA roaming in all data packages. If overused, they charge 0.99 NOK per MB.
More info
- Tethering is blocked. If you plan using tethering for connecting other devices use a different operator.
- APN: data.lyca-mobile.no
- Username: lmno Password: plus
- Website in English (note the unusual spelling of Lycamobile online): http://www.lyca-mobile.no/en/